European champions Spain have been given a relatively easy ride in their qualifying group for the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

Spain will face the Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein in Group I after the draw was made in Warsaw, meaning that Spain, the top-ranked team in the world, will not have to face any team that qualified for this year's World Cup.

Germany, runners-up to Spain in the Euro 2008 final, face neighbours Austria in Group A as well as Turkey in what should be a straightforward group for them to negotiate into the finals in two years' time.

Germany beat both teams on the way to the final, including a dramatic 3-2 victory over Turkey in the semis.

Turkey have a large number of fans among their immigrants in Germany. TheGermans will also face Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, coached by formerGermany boss Berti Vogts.

"I am neither shocked nor pleased. Logistically, it's not going to be simple,'' Germany coach Joachim Loew said of the long trips to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

World champions Italy will face two 2010 World Cup finalists in Serbia and Slovenia in Group C which also includes Northern Ireland, Estonia and Faroe Islands.

England will renew their old rivalry with Wales after being drawn together in Group G, while France, runners-up in the 2006 World Cup final, face a challenge from Romania, Bosnia, Belarus, Albania and Luxembourg.

Demanding group

Italy, who won the European title in 1968, face World Cup qualifiers Serbia and Slovenia, will also face Northern Ireland, Estonia and the Faeroe Islands in Group C.

"It's a very demanding group, the only group with three World Cup finalists,'' Serbia coach Radomir Antic said after the draw.

"Italy has all the experience, they know how to play championships. And Slovenia eliminated Russia from the World Cup.''

England were with another World Cup finalist, Switzerland, in Group G. They also face neighbours Wales and have two trips to the Balkans, to Bulgaria and Montenegro.

"Wales is a really good team, very young and a derby is never a normal game," said Capello whose side are ranked 9th in the world according to Fifa with the Wales team listed as 77th.

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